Ittihad Kalba In May 2018, after his loan at Astra Giurgiu expired, he moved to Emirati club Ittihad Kalba for a transfer fee of €500,000. He netted his first goal on 28 September, in a 3–1 victory over Al-Nasr. Return to FCSB Matei returned to his boyhood club Steaua București—now renamed FCSB—on 4 January 2019, seven years after stating that he did not regret leaving the Roș-albaștrii and being subsequently criticised by owner Gigi Becali. Return to Astra Giurgiu On 19 June 2019 he signed a 1-year contract with Liga I side Astra Giurgiu. Apollon Smyrnis On 19 February 2022, Matei's contract with Greek club Apollon Smyrnis was terminated. International career Matei earned caps for Romania's under-17 and under-19 teams. In early 2016, Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu regarded him as a player who would deserve to be selected for the full side. Career statistics Club Honours Club Rijeka Prva HNL: 2016–17 Croatian Cup: 2016–17 References External links 1993 births Living people People from Bolintin-Vale Romanian footballers Romania youth international footballers Association football midfielders Liga I players Liga II players Serie A players Ukrainian Premier League players Croatian Football League players UAE Pro League players Cypriot First Division players Super League Greece players FC Steaua II București players FC Steaua București players FC Unirea Urziceni players A.C. Cesena players FC Volyn Lutsk players HNK Rijeka players FC Astra Giurgiu players Al-Ittihad Kalba SC players Apollon Limassol FC players Apollon Smyrnis F.C. players FC UTA Arad players Romanian expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in Italy Expatriate footballers in Ukraine Expatriate footballers in Croatia Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates Expatriate footballers in Cyprus Expatriate footballers in Greece Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Romanian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Greece